WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Eric Hildebrand and Wyatt Wendell are moving on to professional baseball as the Chicago White Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks signed the Purdue pitchers to minor league free agent deals.
Hildebrand and Wendell join Jackson Smeltz and Curtis Washington Jr. as Boilermakers moving on to affiliated professional baseball from the 2022 team. Smeltz and Washington were drafted by the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners last week.
After being 40 rounds for more than 50 years, the MLB Draft was limited to 20 rounds again this year. That has led to more free-agent signings following the draft. A year ago, it was Purdue's Zac Fascia (Cleveland Guardians) and Calvin Starnes (New York Yankees) that signed as minor league free agents after the draft.
Wendell pitched for the West Virginia Black Bears of the MLD Draft League this summer. He was recognized for having an elite spin rate (2,922 RPM) on his curveball in data released by the MLB Draft League in June. By signing a pro deal, he opted to forgo his final season of collegiate eligibility at Purdue. However, Hildebrand, Smeltz, Washington and Wendell all graduated high school in 2018.
Hildebrand was recognized as part of Purdue's 2022 senior class and is in line to earn his bachelor's degree in supply chain and sales engineering technology in December.
Smeltz and Washington are also officially moving on to pro ball, signing with the organizations that drafted them. After graduating in May, Smeltz was expected to sign. Washington opted to pursue his professional opportunity in the Mariners organization, forgoing a final season of college eligibility at Purdue.
With the new quartet becoming professionals, Purdue has 15 alumni playing pro ball this summer. Alum Nick Dalesandro (2016-18) is at the Double-A level in the Diamondbacks system.
Wendell was Purdue's opening day starter and also started the Big Ten Tournament opener vs. Rutgers. He became the first newcomer since Josh Lindblom in 2007 to start a season opener. Lindblom has pitched professionally since being drafted in the second round in 2008. Wendell finished third on the team with 56 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings to help the Boilermakers set team records for strikeouts (479) and strikeouts per nine innings (9.57). Along with a 10-strikeout performance vs. Illinois State in his first start at Alexander Field, he returned from a midseason injury to give the Boilermakers consecutive quality outings in big wins vs. Michigan and at Iowa. He also pitched in the NJCAA World Series with Indian Hills College before transferring to Purdue.
Hildebrand was a three-year letterwinner in the bullpen, joining the program as a sophomore transfer during the 2019-20 school year. He pitched in 42 games during his career, leading the team in appearances in 2021 and being one of three Boilermakers to make 20-plus appearances as a senior. The durable righthander made multiple appearances in four different series this season and worked two-plus innings five times.
Hildebrand and Wendell join Jackson Smeltz and Curtis Washington Jr. as Boilermakers moving on to affiliated professional baseball from the 2022 team. Smeltz and Washington were drafted by the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners last week.
After being 40 rounds for more than 50 years, the MLB Draft was limited to 20 rounds again this year. That has led to more free-agent signings following the draft. A year ago, it was Purdue's Zac Fascia (Cleveland Guardians) and Calvin Starnes (New York Yankees) that signed as minor league free agents after the draft.
Wendell pitched for the West Virginia Black Bears of the MLD Draft League this summer. He was recognized for having an elite spin rate (2,922 RPM) on his curveball in data released by the MLB Draft League in June. By signing a pro deal, he opted to forgo his final season of collegiate eligibility at Purdue. However, Hildebrand, Smeltz, Washington and Wendell all graduated high school in 2018.
Hildebrand was recognized as part of Purdue's 2022 senior class and is in line to earn his bachelor's degree in supply chain and sales engineering technology in December.
Smeltz and Washington are also officially moving on to pro ball, signing with the organizations that drafted them. After graduating in May, Smeltz was expected to sign. Washington opted to pursue his professional opportunity in the Mariners organization, forgoing a final season of college eligibility at Purdue.
Minor League Baseball's new-look rookie leagues debuted last year and feature teams playing games at the organization's spring training facilities in Arizona and Florida. Wendell and Hildebrand are likely to begin their pro careers there. The Diamondbacks and White Sox both have affiliates in the Arizona Complex League.Once again, thank you @PurdueBaseball , for making many childhood dreams of mine come true!! 🙏🏾 #BoilerUp 🖤🚂 https://t.co/M0HGiZEVoE
— Curtis Washington Jr. (@swaggyc5) July 25, 2022
With the new quartet becoming professionals, Purdue has 15 alumni playing pro ball this summer. Alum Nick Dalesandro (2016-18) is at the Double-A level in the Diamondbacks system.
Wendell was Purdue's opening day starter and also started the Big Ten Tournament opener vs. Rutgers. He became the first newcomer since Josh Lindblom in 2007 to start a season opener. Lindblom has pitched professionally since being drafted in the second round in 2008. Wendell finished third on the team with 56 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings to help the Boilermakers set team records for strikeouts (479) and strikeouts per nine innings (9.57). Along with a 10-strikeout performance vs. Illinois State in his first start at Alexander Field, he returned from a midseason injury to give the Boilermakers consecutive quality outings in big wins vs. Michigan and at Iowa. He also pitched in the NJCAA World Series with Indian Hills College before transferring to Purdue.
Hildebrand was a three-year letterwinner in the bullpen, joining the program as a sophomore transfer during the 2019-20 school year. He pitched in 42 games during his career, leading the team in appearances in 2021 and being one of three Boilermakers to make 20-plus appearances as a senior. The durable righthander made multiple appearances in four different series this season and worked two-plus innings five times.